Press release

Competition heats up at Men’s Junior Championship

USA Team scored via 22 blocks in the victory over Iran on Friday

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 6, 2011 – The race to secure a place in the medals round heats up as teams of Russia, United States, Argentina and Brazil try to take the inside track courtesy of their victories in the opening day of the second round on Friday.The main event of the show will be the clash between Argentina and Brazil in the last match of the day at Maracanazinho Gymasium. Both teams succeeded on Friday and the winner will be on the driver seat in the dispute for the top place of Pool F.Meanwhile, three teams competing in Niteroi picked up their first victories of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Junior World Championship of Friday in Caio Martins gymnasium. By the end of the day Saturday, there should be a better idea of which teams might be competing for ninth place on Wednesday.

Pool E –Second Round- Positions 1-8

Iran v Russia

The seven-time champions Russia are coming from a strong and convincing victory over Spain in straight sets when they once again established a high wall at the net led by Igor Filippov who scored with seven of his team’s 13 blocks. One more victory should secure the Russians at least a second place in Pool E and a slot in the semifinals of the event. The threesome of Filippov, Andrey Kolesnik and Oleg Tsentalovich continue to produce on a consistent basis. After winning the first set against USA, Iran lost momentum and was victim of a powerful performance by the USA Team. The Asian team is against the wall and need a win on Saturday to keep alive its chances of making the final-four round.

United States v Spain

The United States demolished Iran with 22 blocks on Friday night to take the inside track towards the medal round. Joshua Taylor came off the bench to contribute 17 points and share the spot with Taylor Sander as the best scorers of the American side in the victory. Dylan Davis led the tight defense at the net scoring with six blocks among his 11 points in a match where five USA players finished with double-figures in scoring. The chances of Spain are considered marginal after the loss in three sets against Russia. The Ruiz duo of Francisco and Borja once again proved to be productive but the Spanish team will need a titanic effort to be able to surpass the hurdle they are facing on Saturday.

Pool F –Second Round- Positions 1-8

Serbia v India

The two teams entered the second round with the wrong foot as they both lost their first contest and are obliged to win this match to stay alive. After battling with Argentina for the first two sets of their match on Friday, the team of India ran out of gas and was completely dominated by the South American side. Winners of Pool D with 3-0 win-loss record in Niteroi, the Serbians could not play at the same level in their first presentation at the Rio de Janeiro stage as they crashed into the Brazilian wall on Friday. Aleksandar Atanasijevic, the best scorer among the teams playing in the top-eight phase, was limited to 15 points.

Brazil v Argentina

This is a South American classic between the two-time defending champions and hosts Brazil and the top world-ranked junior Argentina. The winner of this contest will likely get the ticket as the top positioned team of the pool in the semifinal round. Brazil played its best match on Friday after a couple of so-so outings in the previous phase as the home boys destroyed Serbia in straight sets. The Argentineans cleared the hurdle presented by India for two initial sets and enjoyed one strong finish. Brazil played a game with precision and good balance but Argentina was solid as a rock at the end of its match. Neither of the two teams are in do-or-die situation but the match promises to be a battle.

Pool G –Second Round- Positions 9-16

Canada v Egypt

Canada achieved its first tournament win on Friday; a 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-14) defeat of Japan. Meanwhile, Egypt is still looking for its first victory after suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of its fellow African competitor, Tunisia. The teams will square off at 12:30 p.m. local time. Canada will again look to its top scorers, Tristan Aubry and Nicholas Hoag for a second victory on Saturday. Egypt will need to cut down on the errors as it gave up 42 points on errors against Tunisia while only giving Tunisia 23 points on errors.

Japan v Tunisia

Japan lost to Canada on Friday and now must try to bounce back against Tunisia if it hopes to play in the ninth-place match. The match starts at 4:00 p.m. local time. Tunisia’s 3-1 win over Egypt was its first of the tournament and it will look to scoring leaders Racem Siala and Mohamed Arbi Ban Abdalleh to pick up another win. Japan will look for good production from its leading scorer, Takashi Dekita, but must also get other Japanese players to produce more points.

Pool F –Second Round- Positions 9-16

Belgium v Germany

Belgium, which picked up a hard-fought 3-1 win over Bulgaria in the late match on Friday, must come right back first thing on Saturday (10 a.m. local time) to defeat Germany, its European neighbor, if it hopes to make it to the ninth-place match. However, Germany picked up its first victory of the tournament on Friday, a 3-1 win over Puerto Rico and is looking for another. Germany was led on Friday by Bjorn Hohne while Puerto Rico is paced by Ricardo Archilla.

Bulgaria v Puerto Rico

Bulgaria and Puerto Rico will play the final Pool H match of the day at 6:30 p.m. local time on Saturday at Caio Martins. Neither team has won a match yet in the tournament. Puerto Rico will look to its leading scorers Steven Morales and Ricardo Archlla for good production. Bulgaria, who had performed well despite losing all previous matches in the strong Pool A, will look to Nikolay Penchev, its leading scorer on Friday.